Gries Financial LLC bought a new position in shares of Business First Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ:BFST - Free Report) in the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor bought 54,563 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,329,000. Gries Financial LLC owned approximately 0.18% of Business First Bancshares as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
A number of other large investors have also bought and sold shares of BFST. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. lifted its position in shares of Business First Bancshares by 3.7% in the fourth quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 13,719 shares of the company's stock worth $353,000 after purchasing an additional 492 shares in the last quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC lifted its holdings in Business First Bancshares by 106.7% during the 4th quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC now owns 1,052 shares of the company's stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 543 shares during the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. lifted its holdings in Business First Bancshares by 1.3% during the 4th quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 43,328 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,114,000 after purchasing an additional 545 shares during the last quarter. Sterling Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in Business First Bancshares by 4.2% during the 4th quarter. Sterling Capital Management LLC now owns 17,086 shares of the company's stock valued at $439,000 after purchasing an additional 688 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Quantbot Technologies LP lifted its holdings in shares of Business First Bancshares by 37.5% during the fourth quarter. Quantbot Technologies LP now owns 3,582 shares of the company's stock worth $92,000 after buying an additional 976 shares in the last quarter. 47.35% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.
Business First Bancshares Stock Down 0.3%
Shares of NASDAQ BFST traded down $0.08 during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting $26.13. 73,011 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 98,173. The company has a market cap of $775.80 million, a PE ratio of 10.75 and a beta of 0.80. Business First Bancshares, Inc. has a one year low of $20.07 and a one year high of $30.30. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $24.52 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $24.72. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55, a quick ratio of 0.99 and a current ratio of 0.99.
Business First Bancshares (NASDAQ:BFST - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 24th. The company reported $0.65 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.61 by $0.04. Business First Bancshares had a return on equity of 11.49% and a net margin of 15.00%. The business had revenue of $79.21 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $77.54 million. On average, equities analysts predict that Business First Bancshares, Inc. will post 2.72 EPS for the current year.
Business First Bancshares Dividend Announcement
The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Saturday, May 31st. Stockholders of record on Thursday, May 15th were given a dividend of $0.14 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, May 15th. This represents a $0.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.14%. Business First Bancshares's dividend payout ratio is presently 23.05%.
Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth
Several analysts have recently weighed in on BFST shares. Stephens restated an "overweight" rating and set a $30.00 price target on shares of Business First Bancshares in a report on Tuesday, July 8th. DA Davidson boosted their price target on Business First Bancshares from $29.00 to $31.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, July 9th. Finally, Raymond James Financial reduced their price target on Business First Bancshares from $30.00 to $28.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, April 25th.
View Our Latest Research Report on BFST
Insider Activity at Business First Bancshares
In related news, CFO Greg Robertson sold 1,086 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $23.72, for a total transaction of $25,759.92. Following the sale, the chief financial officer owned 69,235 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,642,254.20. This represents a 1.54% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 6.45% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.
Business First Bancshares Company Profile
(
Free Report)
Business First Bancshares, Inc operates as the bank holding company for b1BANK that provides various banking products and services in Louisiana and Texas. It offers various deposit products and services, including checking, demand, money market, time, and savings accounts; and certificates of deposits, remote deposit capture, and direct deposit services.
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